Why Smit & zoon joined LWG

November 8 - 2012

MVO – Sustainable Leather Meeting

Egbert Dikkers – Smit & zoon

November 14, 2012 2

We care about the next generation.

- Who are we?

- Why are we member of LWG?

- Sustainability challenge?

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Smit & zoon

From 1821 untill today – from trading to producing.

• We are a 7th generation family owned & managed company

– founded in Amsterdam, trading stock fish and cod liver oil

– from trading stock fish and fish oils to manufacturing fish oil based specialities

– core business:

• leather division

– develop and manufacture fatliquors & retanning agents (Smit & zoon)

– develop and manufacture finishing specialties (Smit Finishing)

• functional oils division

– blend and process full range of functional oils for:

» omega 3 for capsulation

» cat & dog food

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Our facilities.

• Netherlands

– headoffice

– leather service centre

– R&D

– production syntans / fatliquors

• China

– production syntans / fatliquors

• Italy

– headoffice

– leather service centre

– R&D

– production

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Our mission.

To be your preferred partner

providing

excellent service and products

today and tomorrow.

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Challenges within sustainability?

Experiences, ambitions and challenges of Smit & zoon

• Sustainable focus: Water, Waste, CO2, Safety.

• Leather is turning into luxury article.

– less cheap aricles and more luxury applications (among them automotive).

• Individual interests versus supply chain interests (= sharing!)

– individual companies, trade organizations, countries, type of companies.

• Who is setting the borders for sustainability?

– is it the government? The tannery? The Brands? Or the consumer?

• Who is paying for ‘sustainable’ options?

– experiences Safetan™ range or the meat sector (do we want to pay for better meat?)

• Thinking about sustainability requires a (long term) future focus.

– not easy for every company.

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Focus of LWG

The objective of this multi-stakeholder group is to develop and maintain a

protocol that assesses the compliance and environmental performance of

tanners and promotes sustainable and appropriate environmental business

practices within the leather industry.

The group seeks to improve the tanning industry by creating alignment on

environmental priorities, bringing visibility to best practices and providing

suggested guidelines for continual improvement.

It is the group's objective to work transparently, involving brands, suppliers,

retailers, leading technical experts within the leather industry, NGOs and other

stakeholder organisations.

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Major focus/discussion areas of LWG

Some major focus areas / discussion areas:

• Focus on limited usage and re-usage of: Water, Energy, Air emission, Waste

• Good housekeeping / not only focus on your own tann yard

• Traceability of hides / skins

• Alignment of(RSL) testing methodes

• Share experiences and try to focus on improving the supply chain

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LWG type of initiatives…

- Important to take your responsibility.

- Make the world a bit better.

- Fair competition.

- Challenge to get alignment instead of

competition.

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